Latest News
Book Launch: Peace Dancer
Time and Date: 7pm, Thursday, June 9, 2016 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speakers: Roy Henry Vickers and Robert "Lucky" Budd Tickets: Free event; suitable for all ages. Join us to celebrate the launch of Peace Dancer: the fourth and final book in the Northwest Coast Legends series, with a reading and slideshow from the award-winning artist and author duo of Roy Henry Vickers and Robert “Lucky” Budd. Click Here for Details
Watershed Moments: May Day Parade
Here now is an image and quote from the museum's award-nominated book Watershed Moments – A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: CDM 2004.49.20 Photo caption: The lavish Comox Co-operative Creamery float passes by in the 1923 Courtenay May Day parade, while dairy producer Alex Urquhart watches from the sidelines. Page 90. "In 1901, a group of Comox Valley dairy farmers, who lacked the equipment they needed for processing, set up the Comox Co-operative Creamery Association to provide a central processing co-op for their milk. "The Creamery," as folks came to know it, became one of the most successful enterprises in the [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: H.M.C.S. Aurora
Lucky Cumberland kids got a chance of a lifetime to visit the H.M.C.S. Aurora as reported in this April 30, 1921 edition of the Cumberland Islander. The Aurora served the Royal Navy during World War I before she was offered to the Canadian government in March of 1920. A Wikipedia entry for the warship notes that “The Royal Canadian Navy commissioned her on 1 November 1920. She sailed shortly afterward from the United Kingdom for Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving on 21 December with two ex-Royal Navy destroyers that had also been transferred. After a minimal time in port at HMC Dockyard, the three ships [...]
Coming Up
April 27: Fanny Bay Hall at 7:00 pm Stop in to the Fanny Bay Hall on April 27 to enjoy the popular Fat Oyster Reading Series and listen to authors Christine Dickinson, Deborah Griffiths and Catherine Siba read from the museum's Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District published in the fall with Harbour Publishing.
Watershed Moments: In the Running for BCHF Lieutenant Governor’s Medal
The museum has just received news from the British Columbia Historical Federation that Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District is one of seven books to be short-listed for the BC Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Historical Writing. Winners will be announced at the British Columbia Historical Federation Conference Book Awards Reception on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort. To celebrate, we're adding another feature to the e-news by presenting images and quotes from the book on a monthly basis. We hope you enjoy it. Photo credit: Stubbs Collection at CDM Photo caption: Central Builders' Wharf, ca. 1910-1920. "Over [...]
Lecture: Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons
Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Mark Zuehlke Tickets: $5 for Historical Society members; $6 for general public (plus GST). Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 5. Mark Zuehlke is an award-winning author generally considered to be Canada's foremost popular military historian. In this presentation, Zuehlke returns to the topic of Western Canada's remittance men with the re-release of his 2001 book Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons. More Details
Stamp It
The Comox Valley elasmosaur, discovered by Mike Trask in 1988 and housed in the Courtenay Museum, will be featured in the 2016 Dinos of Canada stamp series, which will be available in the last week of May. Canada Post sent out a press release the first week of April stating that they would also be placing a "cancel" on the Official First Day Cover (a collectors' item -- some 10,000 printed) with "Courtenay, BC" printed on them. The complete series includes: Cypretherium coarctatum (SK), Acrotholous (AB), Atrociraptor marshalli (AB), Bathygnathus borealis (PEI) and the Comox Valley elasmosaur. Canada Post worked with experts in the [...]
Naturalists Celebrate
The Comox Valley Naturalist Society (CVN) will host this year's BC Nature 2016 AGM and CVN 50th anniversary at the Filberg Centre from May 12th to the 15th. The CVN will host an array of presentations and lectures, outings, field trips and social events for the expected 250 attendees. Want to find out more? Click Here
Spring Fling and Easter Things
We are all getting really excited for the Spring Fling and Easter Things event which is being held here at the museum on Saturday, March 19 from 11am to 2pm. Please join us for a petting zoo courtesy of the Shamrock Gumboots 4-H Club as well as games, crafts, mascot visits and more. Read all about it
Lecture: Photographic Adventures in Antarctica!
Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Boomer Jerritt Tickets: $8 for Historical Society members; $10 for general public (plus GST). Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 5. Boomer recently spent a month in and around the Antarctic Peninsula and the Falkland Islands as the Photographer in Residence aboard an expedition cruise ship. At this lecture and photo presentation he'll be sharing experiences of his time down south...way down south! Click Here for Details
It’s All There in Black and White: Loggers’ Lingo
Try your hand at deciphering some logging slang from this March 24, 1949 edition of the Comox District Free Press. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
This Space for Rent
Did you know that the museum has two spaces available to rent for public gatherings? The spacious first floor Rotary Gallery has seen many a lecture, presentation and party. There is also a space on the second floor known as the Dogwood Gallery. This area can accommodate approximately 25 people in theatre style seating or comfortably seat 10 around the board room table. Wifi is available. Rental of the Dogwood or Rotary Galleries is on a first come/first served basis. For more information on rental fees and requirements please give us a call at 250-334-0686 ext 5.
Gift Shop News: March 2016
If you are planning to give chocolate this Easter and want a change from the traditional egg or rabbit, you might consider a delicious Elasmo Chocolate Bar made by Hot Chocolates. Only available here at the museum, it's a great deal for $4 and very unique! The gift shop is also carrying a new book written by local author Tim Haley called Her Vision Quest. This hardcover book retails for $22 and would make a wonderful gift. About Her Vision Quest When a hike in the woods goes horribly wrong, young Shirley is forced to think on her feet and grow up quickly. While [...]